UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Now through Jan. 14, 2019, the Penn State Institute for CyberScience (ICS) is accepting applications for seed grant projects focused on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, projects relating to the National Science Foundation’s 10 Big Ideas or other compute-intensive exploratory research projects.

“Artificial intelligence has the potential to be a game-changer for research across all disciplines, and ICS is committed to fostering new and timely avenues of research, such as AI, through our seed grants,” said Jenni Evans, director of ICS and professor of meteorology and atmospheric science. “Past ICS seed grants have provided researchers with the basis for securing large, external grants to expand their research. We look forward to the next phase of innovative projects from Penn State researchers who are pushing the limits of artificial intelligence.”

ICS is seeking projects that fit within one of three subthemes of machine learning and AI:

Understanding the limitations of AI and machine learning systems

AI for social good

AI for the human technology frontier and for understanding human behavior

In addition, ICS welcomes all projects that fit within the ICS mission, including funding to support cyberscience-related conferences at Penn State.

Through its seed grant program, which has awarded more than $1 million to date, ICS provides funding for promising computational and data-intensive research projects. This year’s program will make up to $450,000 available to the Penn State research community. Individual projects may apply to receive up to $35,000.